Living and Learning Enrichment Center Welcomes Three New Board Members

NORTHVILLE, Mich. — Living and Learning Enrichment Center is pleased to announce the appointment of three new members to its Board of Directors: Minoti Rajput, John Avdoulos, and Michael Daranyi. The announcement was made today by Living and Learning President and Founder Rachelle Vartanian.

Minoti Rajput, a Certified Financial Planner, Chartered Special Needs Consultant, with an MBA, has served as the founding president of Secure Planning Strategies for nearly four decades. Her expertise lies in developing and implementing financial and estate plans for affluent professionals, business owners, and retirees.

In addition to her general practice, Rajput is a nationally recognized expert in planning for families with special needs family members. For the past 30 years, her firm has counseled 1500 + families of children with special needs. She is dedicated to finding the right way for these families to plan and provide lifelong care for their loved ones.

Rajput is a firm believer in giving back to the community through volunteering. She is
an active member of the Academy of Special Needs Planning and serves on the
advisory board of FAR Therapeutic Arts & Recreation, an organization dedicated to
helping the special needs population gain independence. She also has served on the boards
of New Horizons Rehabilitation Services and Community Opportunity Center,
organizations dedicated to servicing families with special needs family members. Rajput is a resident of West Bloomfield, Michigan.

John Avdoulos, AIA, is a Partner and Office Director of HKS, a national architecture firm with local offices in Northville, Michigan. He is an active member of the American Institute of Architects.

A resident of Novi, Michigan, Avdoulos is a member of the Novi City Planning Commission, having served two terms first from 2002 – 2008, and currently from 2017 to the present. He serves as Vice Chair of the Commission and chairs the Master Plan & Zoning Committee and the Master Plan Steering Committee.

An active member of his church community, Avdoulos serves as the Parish Council President of Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church. He has also served with the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Detroit Metropolis Council, and the Order of St. Andrew – Ecumenical Patriarchate. Avdoulos holds three degrees from Lawrence Technological University, a Master in Architecture, a Bachelor of Science in Architecture, and a Bachelor in Architecture.

Michael Daranyi is Vice President, Finance and Treasurer for ITC Holdings Corp. headquartered in Novi, Michigan. He is responsible for all treasury and cash management activities, financial planning and analysis, management reporting and risk management, and insurance functions for the company.

Prior to moving to Michigan in 2017, Daranyi served as treasurer on the boards of two nonprofits in Tucson, including one supporting the aging population and a regional ballet company. In addition to using his business acumen to support community initiatives, he is a strong advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion. With a multicultural background, Daranyi is a proponent of bringing awareness and celebration to cultural differences and encouraging equity and inclusion in our businesses and communities.

Daranyi earned a Master of Business Administration in finance from Golden Gate University and a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of Arizona. Michael and his family reside in Plymouth, Michigan.

“The addition of Minoti, John, and Michael to our board strengthens our ability to deliver on our mission,” said Vartanian. “With their leadership and support, Living & Learning will continue to enrich the lives of individuals with disabilities, offering the therapeutic, social, and work-based experiences that allow our participants to achieve their full potential.”

For more information, visit www.livingandlearningcenter.org.

About Living and Learning Enrichment Center

Living and Learning Enrichment Center was founded in 2015 by Rachelle Vartanian and is a 501C3 charity headquartered in Northville, Michigan. Living and Learning is engaged in providing day/evening activities to teens and adults with special needs including vocational and social skills programs. Their goal is to be the nation’s model in equipping people who have special needs with the skills they will need to be contributing members of society. Living and Learning also currently manages the MOD Market in downtown Northville. For more information, visit www.livingandlearningcenter.org.

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